You need a Gold account for Cloud Saved Games, but if you just want to use a spare USB flash drive to save game data on, that will work without needing an account. I do recommend at least getting a free Xbox Live Silver account just so you can have access to social features and the ability to purchase DLC (I personally have a primary Gold American account that I play my games on and a secondary Silver Japanese account to purchase things on)

You need a Gold account for Cloud Saved Games, but if you just want to use a spare USB flash drive to save game data on, that will work without needing an account. I do recommend at least getting a free Xbox Live Silver account just so you can have access to social features and the ability to purchase DLC (I personally have a primary Gold American account that I play my games on and a secondary Silver Japanese account to purchase things on)

The PS3 doesn't charge you for an account - You still need to sign up though, and is required to purchase DLC with.

If you want access to cloud saving, you will need to have a Plus subscription, then you can load to/from the cloud. As with the Xbox 360, you can copy your save and then reload it if things go south, although I've not tried it.

So they're more or less similar, these days, except the Xbox 360 charges for online multiplayer access, and the PS3 doesn't.

The PS3 doesn't charge you for an account - You still need to sign up though, and is required to purchase DLC with.

If you want access to cloud saving, you will need to have a Plus subscription, then you can load to/from the cloud. As with the Xbox 360, you can copy your save and then reload it if things go south, although I've not tried it.

So they're more or less similar, these days, except the Xbox 360 charges for online multiplayer access, and the PS3 doesn't.

I see... How about using USB devices for saving the save games and DLCs? (I understand there's is some kind of limit for Xbox360 but I am quite confused) Asking this part as the price jump between the different capacities is pretty huge...

EDIT: Ok, did some checks and found the Xbox360 to be more flexible in this (can shift DLCs unlike the PS3...?). How big are the DLCs usually (or rather, will a 32GB thumbdrive cut it?)?

Ok, did some tests with my new 32GB thumbdrive about DLCs; 32GB should be fine but I need some space to hold other stuff and did not expect the Xbox360 to write dummy data such that it will take up all 32GB of space in the thumbdrive... :X